The 1 PM bus tour from the Hyatt

About this experience

This is a meet-at-the-curb tour. The bus pulls into the charter loading zone on the 8th Avenue side of the Hyatt Regency Seattle (808 Howell St) and leaves at 1:00 PM. There's no hotel pickup, and the listing says plainly it doesn't collect from airport hotels: take the light rail to Westlake Station and walk over.

The route mixes drive-bys with short stops. Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market and Chinatown-International District go by the window. You get out at Lake Union by the floating homes, at Kerry Park, at the Museum of Pop Culture beside the Space Needle, at Waterfall Garden Park and at the Ballard Locks, the longest break at 25 minutes. The Fremont Troll is listed as a pass-by, but guests report the guide letting them out for photos. At the end you choose: back to the Hyatt, the Space Needle or Pike Place Market.

The names in the reviews are Earl, Captain Ron and Avery, and they carry this tour; guests report Earl calling the seals over at the locks. Two honest points. Seattle Center is a 5-minute photo break; you don't go up the Needle, and MoPOP admission isn't included either. And apart from the locks, stops run 5 to 8 minutes, so one guest found it more neighborhoods than highlights. Want Pike Place as a proper lunch stop? The 3 Hour Seattle City Tour gives you more time there.

• 1:00 PM start, so you keep the morning for the market or a museum
• 25 minutes at the Ballard Locks fish ladder and boat locks
• Kerry Park lookout and the Lake Union floating homes
• Drop-off at the Hyatt, the Space Needle or Pike Place Market
• Bottled water on board, 20 guests at most
• Discount for military veterans, per the listing

How the day runs

1. Before 1 PMFind the bus

   Wait at the charter bus loading zone on the 8th Avenue side of the Hyatt Regency, near 8th and Howell. The tour leaves at 1:00 PM.

2. First stretchDowntown and Lake Union

   Past Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market and Chinatown-International District, then 5 minutes by the floating homes on Lake Union.

3. About 15 minKerry Park and Seattle Center

   8 minutes at the Kerry Park lookout, then 5 at the Museum of Pop Culture, with the Space Needle and the Chihuly glass garden next to it. All three charge for entry.

4. About 40 minFremont and the Ballard Locks

   Past the Fremont Troll, then 25 minutes at the locks: boats moving between lake and sound, and salmon in the ladder from July to September.

5. Around 4 PMDrop-off

   Back to the Hyatt, or ask to get off at the Space Needle or Pike Place Market.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Sit near the front. One guest at the back couldn't hear the guide over the air fan.
• Coming from the airport? Take Link light rail to Westlake Station; the Hyatt is a few blocks away.
• Ask for the Pike Place Market drop-off and stay on for dinner.
• Want to go up the Space Needle? Book a slot for after the tour and take the Space Needle drop-off. Our Space Needle guide has prices and hours.
• It runs in all weather. Bring a rain layer.

Read next:

• Tour prices
• The Space Needle

Frequently asked questions

Compare with

3 Hour Seattle City Tour with Hotel PickupThe classic narrated loop with hotel pickup, a Pike Place stop and the Ballard Locks. Listed at about 4 hours.★ 4.8 · About 4 hours · from $111Premier 3-Hour Seattle City Tour by Mini CoachThree downtown start points and a 3-hour loop to the Locks and Kerry Park, ending in front of the Space Needle.★ 4.8 · 3 hours · from $88Small-Group City Tour with Hotel PickupHotel pickup from most downtown hotels, 14 guests at most, and the only city tour here listed as wheelchair accessible.★ 4.8 · 3 hours · from $115